By Elise D'Haene
May 13, 2010 Michael Disher, the artistic director of Center Stage at the Southampton Cultural Center, is gearing up for the July run of the musical “Cabaret” by holding auditions on Sunday and Monday. Rehearsals will begin this month.
From Christopher Isherwood’s original “Berlin Stories” to its first adaptation as “I Am a Camera” and then on to the Kander and Ebb 1966 musical version, “Cabaret” has continued to draw audiences in productions around the world. The story centers on a group of characters in Germany during the Weimar Republic, the time between World Wars I and II, when Germany was flourishing artistically but struggling economically. Depravity and corruption ruled the 1930s Berlin cafe society as the drumbeats of Nazism rose.
The lead roles include Sally Bowles, 20s, British accent, vulnerable, gregarious, with a strong mezzo-soprano voice; the Emcee, 20s-30s, charismatic, commanding, tenor-baritone; Clifford Bradshaw, 20s to early 30s, American, baritone; Ernst Ludwig, 20s-30s, German accent, minimal singing; Fraulein Schneider (40s-50s), German accent, strong mezzo; Herr Schultz (40s-60s), German accent, appealing demeanor, tenor-baritone, and Fraulein Kost (30s-40s), German accent, minimal singing.
Six Kit Kat Girls will be cast, ranging in ages from 20s to 40s, with German accents and dancing and singing required. The same goes for four Kit Kat Boys. Other roles include customs officers, sailors, specialty dancers, party guests, and Nazis.
On Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. and Monday from 6 to 7 p.m., vocal auditions and script readings for Sally, Clifford, Ernst, Fraulein Schneider, and Herr Schultz will be held. On Sunday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and Monday from 7 to 9:30 p.m., vocal and dance auditions will be held for Sally, the Emcee, and the Kit Kat Boys and Girls.
Interested participants have been asked to take 32 measures of a show tune suited to the role for which they are auditioning. Dance shoes and dance clothing are required.
Performances will be July 22 to Aug. 8. More information is available by e-mailing Mr. Disher at dishermichael@ hotmail.com.